Portable dance floor



H. B. MUELLER 2,192,086

PORTABLE DANCE FLOOR Dec. 14, 1937.'

FiledDeC. 24, 1956 Patented Dec. 14, 1937 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

My invention relates to a portable dance floor or mat' of the particular type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,019,692, issued to me November 5, 1935.

The principal objects of my present invention are to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the dance iioor disclosed in my aforesaid patent, as well as other existing forms of portable or sectional dance floors; further, to provide a floor section or unit that comprises three parts of equal size and approximately uni-v form in construction, said parts being connected to each other by hinges that permit the members or parts to be swung both upwardly and downwardly so as to overlieor underlie the intermediate part or member; and, further, to provide improved means for connecting the edges of the sections or panels when` a. number of the same are assembled to `form a dance floor or mat.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a dance oor panel or section that is composed of a plurality of strips of material, preferably wood, that are held together by rods that pass through the assembled strips adjacent the ends thereof, and which rods have associated therewith coil springs that are eiective in maintaining tight joints between the strips and at kthe same time to provide the necessary degree of flexibility between said strips as the same are subjected to strains and stresses due to the varying pressures impressed on the upper surface of the floor while the same is in use; and,

further, to provide an improved tongue and groove joint'between the strips that make up the sections of the floor and which improved form of joint in addition to firmly retaining the strips in assembled relation, has theleiect of materially increasing and more clearly defining the sound produced when the floor is used by tap dancers, and especially when such dancers are appearing before a sound recording apparatus that is util lized in connection with motion picture cameras or radio broadcasting systems.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully. described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a dance iioor panel constructed in accordance with my invention, and which panel iscomposed of three parts or sections, and also showing the end portion of an adjacent -panel or floor member.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken approximately on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing one of the sections folded into position beneath the intermediate section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view taken approximately on the'line 3'-3 of Fig. 1 and showing the rod that passesthrough the strips from which the floor is constructed..

Fig. 4 'is' an enlargeddetail view showing the form of tongue and groove joint utilized between the oor strips.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and showing the hinge between the folding sections.

Fig. 6 i's an enlarged detail section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, as it would appear if an adjacent unit were in place.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated my improved floor or mat panel composed of three sections that are designated by the letters A, B and C, and which sections are identical in size and practically identical in construction.

Each section of the floor member or panel is made up of a plurality of strips I0 of relatively 25 thin material, such as hard wood, laid edge to edge, one edge of each strip being provided with a longitudinally disposed groove l I and the other edge of said `strip being provided with a longitudinally disposed tongue `I2 that is of such size as to completely flll thel complementary groove.

The faces I3 on the edges of the strips above and below the tongues and grooves are correspondingly inclined and when the strips are fitted togetherwith the tongues l2 completely filling the grooves Il, the slightly inclined faces i3 are slightly spaced apart as illustrated by dotted' lines in Fig. f4.

'I'his particular construction provides a strong and substantial joint between the strips and I have found in practice that such a form of joint as compared to the standard or conventional tongue and groove joint produces highly desirable results in dance floor constructions, and particularly for increasing and more clearly dening the sound when the iloor is used by tap dancers.

The series of strips I0 forming each section of the iioor member or panel are secured in assembled relation by small metal rods I4 that extend transversely through said strips parallel with their ends, and' one end of each rod carries 'a head I5 that occupies a recess I6 formed in the outer edge `of the strip on one side of the section.

'I'he opposite'end of the rod I4 is threaded for panels may be assembled to form a large oor, the

strip I at one end of the panel carries on its outer edge a tongue I2, and the outer edge of the strip l5 at the opposite end of the panel is provided with one of the grooves II for the reception of the tongue on the next adjacent oor member 0r panel.

The ends oi the strips I0 on one side of the oor member or panel are provided with tongues I2a .and the ends of the strips on the opposite side of de panel are provided with grooves IIa for the reception of the tongues I2a on the next adjacent panel.

in order that the end sections A and C of each panel may be folded either onto the top of or beneath the intermediate section B, the inner edges of the end sections A and C are connected to the side edges of intermediate section B by specially :iu formed hinges that are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. Each hinge comprises a link 20, the ends of which are connected by pins 2I to blocks 22 and 23. Block 22 is arranged for sliding movement through a bearing 24 that is preferably formed of thin sheet metal, and which occupies a recess formed in the edge of one of the strips IU and projecting upwardly and downwardly from the intermediate portions of the walls of the housing 24 are lips 25 that extend to the upper and lo lower iaces of the strip in which said housing is seated.

Suitably secured to block 22 is a short metal rod or pin 26 that passes through the strip I0 in which housing 24 is seated, and the opposite end of said pin is threaded for the reception of a tubular nut 21. This nut occupies a recess 28 that is formed in strip Ill and mounted on the rod within said recess behind the nut 21 is an expansive coil spring 29.

Block 23 is seated in a recess 30 that is formed in the side strip of the adjacent section and secured to said block is a rod or pin 3| that extends through the strip in which the block 23 is seated. The end of rod 3| is threaded for the reception of a tubular nut 32 that occupies a recess in the edge of the strip opposite the edge in which block 23 is seated.

This particular construction of hinge permits the end sections A and C of the floor member or panel to be folded over onto the top of or beneath the intermediate section B, and thus affords convenience when the floor members or panels are being packed for storage or transportation or while being assembled to form a dance floor or 65 disassembled after use.

When the end sections A and C are folded over onto the intermediate section, the blocks 22 of the hinges will move through the housings 28 following the swinging movement of the end sections, and as such movement takes place the nuts 21 on the ends of the rods 26 will move inwardly through the recesses 28, thereby compressing the springs 29. The springs 29 are utilized for maintaining the hinge connections between the sections normally under tension, and this tension may be regulated by proper manipulation of the nuts 21.

The nuts I1 on the ends of the rods I4, as well as the nuts 21 and 32, are provided in their outer ends with slots 21a, for the reception of a screwdriver or like tool that is used in screwing the nuts onto or off the ends of the rods on which they are seated.

When a number of the oor members or panels are assembled to forni a floor of large area, the edges of said panels are united to hold the same in assembled relation by means of hooks 33 that are illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, One or more of these hooks are located in the strip Ii! at one end of the panel, and said hooks are adapted to enter recesses such as 34 that are formed in the strip I0 at the opposite end of the panel.

Seated in the strip Il) and passing through the recess 34 is a pin 35 that is engaged by the hook 33 when the same is swung outwardly to secure the edges of two adjacent floor members or panels to each other. Each hook 33 is mounted, lor operation within a recess 36 that is formed in the end strip I0 of the panel and passing through the inner end portion of the hook is a square or non-circular tube 31. Surrounding the end portions of the tube 31 that project above and below the hook 33 are circular disks or washers 38 that are mounted for rotation in corresponding apertures 39 that are formed in the strip I0 above and below the recess 36.

The ends of the rectangular tube 31 and the washers 38 are flush with the upper and lower faces of the strip in which the hook is seated. The tube 31 is made non-circular in order that it may receive a correspondingly shaped wrench when the hook is to be swung from one position to another.

As illustrated in Fig. l, I prefer to provide one hook at one end of each floor member or panel, and a corresponding recess 34 and pin 35 at the opposite end of said member or panel, and, further, to provide the sections A and B at one end with a hook and a corresponding recess and pin at the opposite end.

The arrangement of hooks has been found to be amply suflicient to hold the oor members or panels in assembled relation when a number of such panels are used in forming a dance oor or mat, and while not in use the hcoks 33 are swung I into their recesses 36, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. '7.

The hinged sections forming the floor member or panel, may be easily and conveniently folded together so that the floor members are readily portable and may be conveniently packed for storage or transportation and likewise conveniently opened and assembled for use. The connections between the strips forming the sections and hinges between the said sections provide a strong and substantial structure and at the same time such connections produce a limited degree of exibility which is essential in a portable dance oor or mat.

The construction of the joints between the strips forming the hinged sections is eiiective in holding the strips properly in assembled relation and at the same time such construction materially increases and intensifies the sound produced when the floor is used by tap dancers.

While I have shown and described the oor or mat member composed of three panels, it will be understood that my invention contemplates the provision of a. single panel having the edges of the strips connected by my improved form of tongue and groove joint, and the strips forming the panels being heldin assembled relation by the rods it with which are, associated the expansive springs i9.

Further, my invention contemplates the provision of :door or mat members comprising two panels hinged to each other, or any number of panels in excess of three.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved portable dance iioor may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims. l

I claim as my invention:

l1. In a portable dance door or mat, a panel composed of three sections of equal size and shape, double-acting hinges connecting the end sections lwith the intermediate section so that said end sections may be folded onto the top or bottom of said'intermediate section, and means mounted in the panel adjacent the edges thereof for securing a number of the panels to each other in assembled relation.`

2. In a .portable dance iloor or mat, a panel formed inthree sections of substantially equal size and shape, each section comprising a plurality of narrow strips of thin material, the edges of which are provided with tongue and groove joints,

Y means extending through the strips of each section to hold the same in assembled relation, and double-acting hinges connecting the end sections andthe intermediate section whereby the end sections may be .folded over onto the top or bottom surfaces of said intermediate section.

3. A portable dance floor or mat as set forth in claim 2, and with means seated in the panel adjacent its edges for securing a number of said panels to each other in assembled relation.

4. In a portable dance floor or mat, a panel composed of three sections of substantially equal size and shape, double-acting hinges connecting the end sections to the intermediate section, each section composed of a plurality ci thin narrow strips of material, the edges of said strips being provided with tongue and groove joints, and those portions of the edges of the joints above and below the tongues and grooves being spaced apart when the joints are assembled.

5. In a portable dance iloor or mat, a panel lcomposed of three sections of substantially equal size and shape, double-acting hinges connecting the end sections to the intermediate section, each section composed of a plurality,of thin narrow strips of material, the edges of said strips being provided with tongue and groove joints,v the tongues of said joints completely filling the grooves when the joints .are assembled, and those portions of the edges of the strips above and below the tongues and grooves being spaced apart when the joints are assembled.

6. In a portable dance licor mat, a unit composed of three sections of substantially equal size and shape, double-acting hinges connecting the end sections with the intermediate section, each section comprising a plurality of thin narrow strips oi' material, rods extending through the strips of each section for holding the same in assembled relation, a head formed 'on one end of each rod, a nut screw seated on the other end ofv said rod; there being a recess formed in the section for the accommodation of said nut, and an expansive coil spring located on the rod Within said recess behind the said nut.

'7. In a portable dance floor `or mat, a unit composed of three sections of substantially equal size and shape, double-acting hinges connecting the end sections with the intermediate section, each hinge including a pair of blocks and a link connecting said blocks, a bearing for one of said blocks, and means for yieldingly resisting the movement of said block through said bearing.

8. In a portable dance oor or mat, a unit composed of three sections of substantially equal size and shape, each section composed of a plurality of narrow strips of thin material, the edges of each set of strips being provided with tongue and groove joints, means passing through the strips of each section to Ahold the same in assembled relation, double-acting hinges connecting the end sections with the intermediate section, one member of each hinge being mounted for sliding movement through the strip in which it is seated, and means for yieldingly resisting the sliding movement of said hinge member in one direction.

9. A portable dance oor or'mat as set forth in claim 8, and with means seated in the panel adjacent its edges for securing a number of the panels to each other in assembled relation.

10. In a portable dance floor, a panel composed of a plurality of thin narrow strips of material, the edges of which strips being connected by tongue and groove joints and those portions of the edges of the strips above the tongues and grooves being spaced apart when the joints are assembled. Y

11. Ina portable dance floor, a panel composed ofV a plurality of thin narrow strips of material, the

edges of which strips being connected by tongue and groove joints, those portions of the edges of the strips above the tongues and grooves being spaced apart when the-joints are assembled, and the tongues of said joints completely iilling the grooves when the joints are assembled.

12. In a portable dance door or mat, a panel composed of a plurality of narrow strips of thin material, the edges of which are provided with tongue and groove joints. rods passing through all of the strips of the panel for holding the same in 

